Decoy.



P. J. HINDMARSH.

DEGOY.

APPLICATION FILED MAY 20, 1913.

Patented Jan.6,1914.

Percy Jffz'ndmamia COLUMBIA PLANOORAFH Con-WASHINGTON IL L.

U TED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PERCY J. I-IINDMARSI-I, OF LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 MARK W. WOODS, 0F LINCOLN, NEBRASKA.

DECOY.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PERCY J. I-IINDMARSH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lincoln, in the county of Lancaster and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Decoys, and do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, and to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon.

The object of my invention is to provide a collapsible decoy for wild ducks, geese and birds of the like habits.

The invention consists in a profile image of a duck with wings hinged thereto and adapted to be swung in the plane of the body to open and close, and means for holding them in such positions and for stationing the decoy, represented in the act of alighting, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a plan View of my improved decoy represented in the stationed position; Fig. 2 is a view of the decoy in collapsed or portable condition, but from the side reverse to that seen in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a view of the same description as Fig. 1, but of the lower or reverse side of the model; Fig. 4; is a side view of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings, the body 10 of the decoy is shown to comprise a flat plate of sheet metal, or other suitable material, cut to the general shape of the contour of a duck. To the shoulder parts of the profile body at opposite edges thereof are pivoted a pair of sheet metal plates 11 having the general configuration or contour of wings, the pivots 12 bywhich they are hinged to the body being passed vertically through the respective plates and riveted permanently in position, but with sufiicient play between the headed portions to permit pivotal movement of the wings on the body structure. The inside edges of the wings are proportioned to remain overlapped upon the edges of the body when they are in the spread or expanded position, and they are adapted to be held in such outstretched position by means of a cleat 13 riveted to the body with its edges 14 suiliciently raised therefrom to admit the corners 15 of the inside edges of the wings being received under them, as

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed May 20, 1913.

Patented Jan. 6,1914.

Serial No. 768,828.

shown in Figs. 3 and 4:. The cleat is bent up from the body in its centrallongitudinal sectlon to form a socket 16 for the reception of a rod 17 adapted to be inserted therein, as shown in said Figs. 3, 4 and 5. The rod comprises a picketing staff for being set into the mud or ground in operation and thus stationing the decoy in the erect position near the surface representative of the act of alighting, as shown in Fig. 1. In said position the weight of the wings acting from the fulcrum of the pivots 12 holds them positively engaged with the cleat 13, from which, however, they may be readily disengaged and folded inwardly upon the body plate, parallel with the plane thereof and with each other, as shown in Fig. 2. The picket-ing staff may be readily disengaged from the socket of the cleat, and by being made in two or more sections jointed together by the ferrule construction 18, shown in Fig. 3, may be disjointed and the respective parts placed between the folded wings of the decoy and the body plate thereof, as shown in Fig. 2, which forms a very compact package, convenient for transportation, or for stacking in piles or packing.

In stationing the decoy, the picketing staff may be somewhat inclined from the vertical throwing the model somewhat forward in imitation of the position of a bird in the act of alighting and the side of the body plate to which the cleat, the wings and the staff are attached is preferably to be considered the lower side.

To more closely resemble the appearance of a duck or other required fowl, the decoy may be painted in imitation thereof, and a certain amount of convexity of appearance may be given to the upper side of the body plate by proper shading or application of contrasting colors thereto.

The device comprises an exceedingly cheap and very effective decoy, and may be handled, transported and picketed wit-h facility.

Having thus described my invention what I claim is 1. A decoy comprising a body plate having the contour of a bird or fowl, in combination with a pair of wings comprising plates pivoted to the shoulder sections of the body plate on axes vertical to the plane thereof and adapted to swing parallel therewith, one over the other, engaging cleats carried upon the body plate for engaging and interlocking with the inside sections of the wings to hold them in the spread position, and a picketing staff attachable to the body plate for stationing the decoy.

2. A decoy comprising a sheet metal body plate having the contour of a bird or fowl, in combination with a pair of wings, comprising sheet metal plates pivoted to the shoulder sections of the body plate on axes Vertical to the plane of the plate and adapted to swing parallel with said. plane and with each other, and to be overlapped one upon the other in the closed position, a cleat secured upon the body plate provided with engaging edges for interlocking with the inside sections of the wings to hold them in. the spread position, the cleat being shaped to form a picket socket longitudinally of the body plate, and a picketing stall engageable with the socket of the cleat for stationing the decoy.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

v PERCY J. HINDMARSH.

Witnesses:

IV. E. GATES, E. D. HERRINGTON.

Copies 01 this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

